Find the Best Christmas and New Year’s Yoga Retreats 2018/2019

Treat yourself this holiday season with a Christmas yoga vacation or New Years yoga holiday. Take your daily yoga practice to Costa Rica for a healthy retreat that will help you fulfill your New Year resolutions for the coming year.

Whip your body back into shape with vinyasa flow yoga. Or heal your body with an educational Ayurveda retreat. Work out your tight hips with a slow hatha yoga session and practice mindfulness meditation on the beach.

Or, you can focus on deepening your yoga meditation practice at a yoga meditation retreat to set you right for the coming year. Attend meditation workshops that will teach you valuable techniques for your everyday life.

Practice yoga on a tropical beach or take yoga classes in a yoga studio. Or get a private yoga session with the on-site yoga teacher, allowing you to customize your yoga practise according to your needs.

Indulge in spa treatments, such as an ayurvedic massage or clay mask facials.

Nourish your body with wholesome vegetarian meals and fresh juice, prepared with fresh fruits and vegetables from the land.

Why go on a Yoga Retreat for Christmas or New Years?

And you might need some points to throw at your friends and family that give you mad questionable looks this year.

So here is a list that you can present to them before the eyebrow begins to lift:

1. “Vacation Time” is super limited

Unfortunately, in a lot of our work-driven world, we are barely given enough vacation time to even have a vacation! Usually, this time is centered around the holidays, anyway. Since we don’t always have the freedom to take off on a dream vacation during the summer, why not use our well-deserved vacation time in the winter?

2. Who wants to do chores on their vacation?

So, you’ve finally made it to the end of the year when you can rightfully take two weeks off of work. Then the holidays come. This usually includes dinner parties, gift exchanges, and a whole lot of planning. This usually means that there is a mad rush to get your house in order (because when else will you have the time), get your gifts lined up, get your dishes prepared, and your pretty little self-ready. By the end of the vacation time, you realize that you spent more time doing things instead of vacationing!

But did you know that you can actually enjoy your vacation, chore-free? Imagine having all of your meals prepared for you. Dishes too. It doesn’t make you selfish to want that, either. In fact, I’d bet that everyone would secretly be envious of your true vacation over the holidays! Let the retreat center do all the work so that you can relax and eat your meals in peace ;)

3. You meet the coolest people on Christmas or New Year’s trips

Everyone on these holiday retreats has gone through the same agony of deciding whether or not to skip the holidays back home this year. Everyone in these groups has decided to just go for it, anyway. So you end up surrounded by a collection of fun and down to earth people that are fully aware of the fact that they are really vacationing.

Plus, everyone is still a little bit nostalgic for the whole holiday season, so you usually end up creating a really beautiful holiday family in the process.

4. It’s your own Christmas present

I mean, really: when is the last time that you bought yourself something? And I don’t mean a nice outfit for work, either. You work hard all year long and then what? You pay rent, buy groceries, and get a new outfit every once in awhile. Give yourself a gift this year, and one that is actually good for you! We all deserve to reward ourselves. Otherwise, what’s the point?

5. New Year’s in a new location

Haven’t you always dreamed of counting down the New Year on a tropical beach, surrounding by bonfires, or in the middle of a jungle, with the howling of monkeys? (Or, I don’t know, on some powdery white slopes with the glow of candles lining the edges of the mountains. It’s your fantasy, after all.)

And if you hadn’t dreamt of it before, then maybe start imagining, now.

6. Tropics in the winter (duh)

Unless you come from the perfect winter destination, like Colorado in the United States, winter can be downright icy.

It doesn’t have to be, though.

You could be sipping on mango smoothies while lounging on the soft sands of Bali, as the warm, tropical water laps at your feet. Forget your winter coat and sniffling face this winter. Head to the ultimate climate this winter.

Top New Years Yoga Retreats for 2019

Get your intentions right this year and focus on your health and well-being during your New Year's yoga retreat. Get in on some daily yoga classes, deepen your yoga and meditation practice, clear your mind, fill your belly, and go back to the New Year ready to fulfill your intentions. Here are a few of our favorites...

Imagine your toes wriggling in the white sand... Bathing in warm crystal clear turquoise waters with turtles and tropical fish... Connecting deeply with mother nature and your own true nature... Envision a tranquil paradise with no motorized transport - just palm trees, coconuts and the smell of the ocean breeze... Get yourself away from the hustle and bustle and join us for this once in a lifetime magical experience. Set intentions for the New Year and cleanse yourself entirely with our Reiki Practioner Training (Level 1 & 2) and Yoga Immersion. Transform your radiant energy into one of healing and compassion and learn how to counsel and communicate in a one-on-one scenario. Combine this with daily yoga classes with experienced teachers for the ultimate feeling of zen and embodiment of universal energy. Sound too good to be true? Well, do we have some good news for you :)

Join us for an unforgettable holiday getaway inspired by the spiritually sublime setting of Baja Mexico. Combining the freedom of a vacation with the mindfulness of a retreat, we’ve created this getaway to nourish your body and feed your soul with juicy yoga, vision & goals, and of course some fun and adventure. Whether you’re looking to get your zen on or master hanging ten, this getaway is about the celebration of spirit and moving into the new year with clarity and joy!

Join this “non-commercial” friendly spiritual retreat and free yourself from the mainstream Christmas season. Leave behind traditions and excesses guided by unconscious consumerism of a blind society. Make a big step forward to the world of feeling deeply and facing mental rigidity. Their family is happy to welcome you to their retreat center this Christmas season for a liberating retreat from an inclusive and secular context.

In today’s modern world, there is tremendous pressure for us to ignore the wise woman inside. We need these women to step up and to move in close to the calling, to the heartbeat of the Mother Earth. Connect with the authentic feminine power and reclaim our original gifts as women, we gather and sit in circle, embodying the ancient feminine lineage through our stories, movement, sacred rituals, songs, and witnessing and holding space for each other. You will awaken the mystery essence within you for the life what you desire. You will come home to the depths of yourself… Our retreat offers you a great chance to explore your inner wisdom as well as your real power as a woman. Take a break from your hustle and bustle life, to feel deeper and reconnect with yourself.

Celebrate this special time of transformation & start a fresh new beautiful year! This unique YOGA CHRISTMAS BREAK Retreat will nourish your mind, body, and soul. Expand and stretch, Free your heart and body, Let go of all stress and worries and Feel the joy of life pulsating in your veins. You’ll be flexing & stretching each morning with yoga and enjoying a peaceful night’s sleep after evening meditation.

Release, Restore, and Revitalize Your Core. Many people believe they can release their psoas through manual manipulation, however healing dysfunction or trauma stored in this vital muscle requires specific restorative techniques practiced repetitively. It requires an 'un-doing' rather than a doing!

Deep and healing journey into our inner world. On an island that honors spiritual serenity, is it any wonder you’ll find a blissful retreat for your body and soul? Immerse yourself into the fascinating world of Nidra and Yin yoga and deep meditation practices. This retreat will perfectly suit anyone who is seeking to clean their body as well as their minds while enjoying magnificent Balinese nature.

This retreat is meant for you to let go of the burdens of the heart to feel the flow of life force, creativity, joy and stillness that is within you. Take time to realize what shift you need within yourself to step more into a conscious, balanced path. We will read through your past year to find awareness of what you desire for your new year. We will set intentions with ceremonies and ritual, and we will find clarity and strength through our practice of yoga, meditation, dance, and improvisation.

Imagine a Yoga and Surf retreat in a tranquil, remote, unspoiled and authentic surf town. Connect with the genuine friendly locals and enjoy delicious healthy meals of local fresh fruits and local organic seafood each day. Where nature and wildlife are in abundance, and people warmly greet you as you stroll, skate or bike through town. Here you’ll immerse yourself in daily Yoga classes, a daily surf session, and super healthy fresh foods. Returning home with a sun-kissed glow, stronger surfing skills, and a reinvigorated Yoga practice. Santa Catalina is the ultimate location to unplug, slow down and enjoy the beauty of nature. All you have to do is enjoy, be looked after and do some fantastic yoga and surf.

Spend an amazing yoga holiday during Christmas time in a tropical paradise! Imagine waking up to the only sound of the birds, monkeys, and other creatures in a very relaxing and calm environment near the most beautiful beach of Sri Lanka. Start your day with a yoga class followed by a delicious healthy breakfast, and being part of an inspiring talk to plan the new year incorporating tools for your happiness and a healthy lifestyle. A truly memorable experience designed to disconnect, feel grounded, and refreshed!

Popular Holiday Yoga Retreats

The United States is a beautiful land with plenty to do outside of the city. Round-trip airfare from any of the states can be quite affordable, though many spots are best accessed by car (road trip, anyone?!). Visit ski resorts in Lake Tahoe or go horseback riding through a wintry national park. Places like Yosemite often have a super luxurious cabin-inspired lodge with rock-face fireplaces, a hot tub, and a boutique spa. The charming ski resorts in Colorado sometimes look a little bit like Disneyland, with live music filling the cobblestone streets and a horse-drawn carriage passing by. Explore the United States this winter and visit one of the natural beauties that this country has to offer. Oh, and if you're looking for a warm winter vacation in the US, then head down to South Florida. The coast of Florida is a popular destination during winter months because the water is warm, the weather is perfect, and there is plenty of sun.

Thailand is great for yoga and relaxation. Do you know what else it is great for?

Parties.

(If you’re into that type of thing)

If you’re looking for the ultimate tropical celebration to ring in the New Year, then Thailand is definitely the place to do it. That’s why it’s such a popular destination for these sorts of things :)

FAQ

Will I be lonely on a retreat over the holidays?

Nope. Not even a little bit. Something amazing happens during the holiday season: everyone opens up and seeks out togetherness, no matter who they are with. Plus, the fact that you’re considering a retreat for the holidays tells me that you’re a bit of an adventurous spirit, anyway. I think that you’ll do just fine ;)

Won’t prices be especially high for the holidays?

Sometimes. This is definitely the downside of trying to do anything around commercialized celebrations. Just set your budget accordingly. Start browsing through retreats that are offered over the holidays to get an idea of the price range. Reach out to retreat owners for ideas and research plane tickets, too. As usual, the earlier that you can purchase everything the better (generally).